We have been outfitting people in this community for over 20 years, and the mix of what sells here is not the same as a store in a downtown. It is worth explaining why, because the numbers are public and they are more specific than most people expect.
The numbers
The Township of Langley publishes a community profile for Aldergrove built on Statistics Canada census data. It puts the population at 12,240 in the 2016 census, with a labour force of 6,800 and 6,705 of those working across all industries.
Where they work is the interesting part:
- Retail trade, 945
- Construction, 900
- Manufacturing, 745
- Transportation and warehousing, 385
- Wholesale trade, 375
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing, 340
Add construction, manufacturing, transport and wholesale together and you are at roughly 2,400 people, more than a third of everyone working. Put agriculture on top and the picture is a community where a large share of the population puts on something durable to go to work.
What that means on the floor
It means we carry deep in work boots rather than broad in fashion. It means the CSA-rated wall is not a corner of the store, and that when someone comes in needing certified footwear for a site starting Monday, having their size in stock matters more than having forty styles they cannot have today.
It also explains the Blundstone wall. A boot that works on a farm, on a site and then out to dinner suits a place where those are frequently the same person on the same day.
If you are trying to work out which certification your site requires, the symbols stamped on the boot are the answer, and we keep a plain reference to what each CSA symbol certifies alongside the brands we carry.
The commercial side follows the same shape
Aldergrove sits next to Gloucester Industrial Estates and close to the Lynden border crossing, which is part of why so much of the local employment is in logistics, warehousing and manufacturing. Those are businesses with crews, and crews need to look like they work together.
That is most of what comes across the commercial desk: hi-vis with a company logo on it, jackets for a install team, polos for the office side of the same company, a run of shirts for a trade show. It is why the decoration happens in this building rather than being sent away.
And the rest of it
Retail is the single largest employer in Aldergrove and health care and education are both substantial, so it is not only trades. Scrubs, uniforms for service staff, and school and team apparel are a real part of the week here.
The community facilities have grown alongside that. The Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre on Fraser Highway added an NHL-sized rink, pools and the Otter Co-op Outdoor Experience, and it is home to the Aldergrove Kodiaks. Sports teams need uniforms, and that has become a bigger share of what we quote than it was ten years ago.
If you run a crew, a team or a business here, come and talk to us. We are at Unit 570, 26310 Fraser Highway in Aldergrove Village Shopping Centre, or call (604) 856-3774.
